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Recommended  Best  Management 

Practices  For  Forestry 

In  Georgia 


GEORGIA 

FORESTRY 


Ai$s\ 


RECEIVED 

DEC.  1  2  1994 

DOCUMENTS 
UGA  |id»*pi' 


Foreword 


This  booklet  was  prepared  to  inform  loggers,  foresters,  landowners,  and  others  in- 
volved with  forestry  in  Georgia  about  the  simple  and  practical  methods  to  minimize 
erosion  from  forestry  operations.  The  methods  described  are  better  known  as  Best 
Management  Practices  and  will  be  referred  to  in  this  publication  as  BMPs.  These  BMPs 
were  developed  by  the  Forestry  Non-Point  Source  Technical  Task  Force  comprised  of 
14  individuals  representing  various  aspects  of  forestry  in  Georgia. 

It  should  be  emphasized  that  these  recommendations  are  strictly  voluntary  at  the 
present  time. 

The  Task  Force  feels  that  these  practices  are  economical,  common  sense  answers 
for  assuring  forestry's  contribution  to  a  high  standard  of  water  quality  in  the  state. 


* 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

The  Georgia  Forestry  Commission  wishes  to  express  its  appreciation  to  those  indivi- 
duals, committees,  and  agencies,  which  contributed  to  the  development  of  this  publica- 
tion. 


1993 


THE  PUBLICATION  OF  THIS  DOCUMENT  WAS  SUPPORTED  BY  THE  GEORGIA 
ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION  DIVISION  AND  WAS  FINANCED  IN  PART 
THROUGH  A  GRANT  FROM  THE  U.  S.  ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION 
AGENCY,  UNDER  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  205(J)  OF  THE  FEDERAL  WATER 
POLLUTION  CONTROL  ACT,  AS  AMMENDED. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction 2 

Section  I  -  Streamside  Management  Zones 4 

Section  II  -  Stream  Crossings 6 

Section  III  -  Access  Roads  and  Their  Construction 7 

Section  IV  -  Timber  Harvesting 13 

Section  V  -  Site  Preparation 14 

Section  VI  -  Reforestation 15 

Section  VII  -  Forest  Protection  (Prescribed  Burning,  Fire  Lines  and 

Chemical  Fire  Retardants) 16 

Section  VIII  -  Chemical  Treatment  (Pesticides,  Herbicides,  and  Fertilizers) 17 

Appendix 18 


LIST  OF  TABLES 

Page 

Table  1  -Recommended  Diameters  for  Corrugated  Metal  Culverts 20 

Table  2  -Recommendations  for  Seeding,  Mulching  and  Fertilizing  Roads, 

Skid  Trails  and  Disturbed  Areas  in  Georgia 21 

Table  3  -Calculation  of  Seed  and  Fertilizer  Needs  for  Roads,  Skid 

Trails  and  Disturbed  Areas 22 


LIST  OF  FIGURES 


Page 

Fig.  1  -  Major  Regions  in  Georgia 3 

Fig.  2  -  Streamside  Management  Zones  and  Their  Widths  by  Region 5 

Fig.  3  -  Properly  Constructed  Road  Cross  Section 8 

Fig.  4  -  Culvert  Installation 9 

Fig.  5  -  Broad  Based  Drainage  Dips 10 

Fig.  6  -  Water  Turnout 11 

Fig.  7  -  Profile  of  Abandoned  Skid  Trail  Showing  Water  Bars 12 

Fig.  8  -  Water  Bars  in  Firebreak 17 


INTRODUCTION 

Planning  for  protection  of  water  quality  from  non-point  source  pollutions  is  pro- 
vided for  in  Section  208  of  the  1972  Federal  Water  Pollution  Control  Act  (Public  Law 
92-500)  as  ammended  by  the  Clean  Water  Act  of  1977  (Public  Law  95-217),  and  as 
ammended  by  Section  3 19  of  the  Clean  Water  Act  of  1987  (Public  Law  100-4).  The  basic 
goal  of  the  federal  law  is  to  protect  and  improve  the  quality  of  the  nation's  waters  so 
they  are  "fishable"  and  "swimmable". 

Included  in  overall  area- wide  planning  is  the  protection  of  water  quality  from  poss- 
ible pollution  by  forestry  (silvicultural)  activities.  Thus,  the  Forestry  Non-Point  Source 
Technical  Task  Force  was  created  to  assess  the  extent  of  pollution  caused  by  forestry 
activities  in  Georgia  and  recommend  practices  which  would  eliminate  or  reduce  the 
amount  of  pollution. 

The  practices  the  Task  Force  recommended  are  called  Best  Management  Practices 
(BMP'S).  Since  soil  characteristics  and  slope  vary  greatly  within  the  state,  these 
BMP'S  were  designed  for  each  of  Georgia's  four  major  regions:  Lower  Coastal  Plain, 
Upper  Coastal  Plain,  Piedmont  and  Mountain  (Fig.  1). 

The  BMP'S  are  arranged  in  the  following  sections: 

1.  Streamside  Management  Zones 

2.  Stream  Crossings 

3.  Access  Roads  and  Their  Construction 

4.  Timber  Harvesting 

5.  Site  Preparation 

6.  Reforestation 

7.  Forest  Protection  (Prescribed  Burning,  Firelines,  and  Chemical  Fire  Retardant) 

8.  Chemical  Treatment  (Pesticides,  Herbicides,  and  Fertilizers) 


1/ 


Non-Point  source  pollution  is  described  as  any  pollution  that  is  created  from  an 
activity  which  has  no  particular  permanent  location.  Examples  are:  Timber  har- 
vesting, farming,  site  preparation,  mining,  etc. 


Fig.  1  -  Major  Regions  in  Georgia 


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-  SECTION  I  - 
STREAMSIDE  MANAGEMENT  ZONES 

Areas  adjacent  to  perennial  (ever  flowing)  or  intermittent  (wet-weather)  streams  and 
ponds  or  lakes  require  special  management  in  forestry  operations.  These  "zones"  are 
the  prime  areas  where  non-point  source  pollutants  enter  our  water  resources.  They  are 
known  as  Streamside  Management  Zones  (SMZ).  Special  care  and  sometimes  restricted 
activity  are  necessary  in  these  areas. 

The  SMZ  is  divided  into  two  parts:  (1)  primary,  and  (2)  secondary.  Figure  2  shows 
the  recommended  width  of  each  by  region. 

PRIMARY  SMZ 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Any  type  of  cutting  practice,  including  clearcutting.— 

2.  The  cabling  out  of  any  timber. 

3.  Hand  planting  or  direct  seeding. 

X  PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Wheeled  or  tracked  vehicles  of  any  kind. 

2.  Leaving  trees  or  tops  in  water. 

3.  Roads  or  trails  of  any  kind,  unless  absolutely  necessary. 

4.  Fire. 

5.  Any  type  of  mechanical  site  preparation  or  machine  planting. 

6.  Portable  sawmills  and  log  decks. 

7.  Aerial  application  of  any  pesticides  or  herbicides. 

SECONDARY  SMZ 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Any  type  of  cutting  practice,  including  clearcutting. 

2.  Careful  use  of  wheeled  or  tracked  vehicles. 

3.  Roller  chopping. 

4.  Fire. 

5.  Any  type  of  planting  which  does  not  remove  the  forest  floor  or  expose  mineral 
soil. 

X  PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Roads  or  trails  of  any  kind,  unless  absolutely  necessary. 

2.  Portable  sawmills  and  log  decks. 

3.  Harrowing,  root  raking,  or  bulldozing. 

4.  Gully  leveling,  unless  immediately  seeded  and  mulched. 


—  Clearcutting  is  unacceptable  in  the  Primary  SMZ  in  the  Mountains,  if  it  affects  the 
water  temperature  to  the  extreme  that  it  would  threaten  a  trout  environment 
(see  thermal  pollution  in  Glossary). 


Fig.  2  -  Streamside  Management  Zones  and  Their  Widths  by  Region 


SECONDARY 
SMZ 


LOWER  COASTAL 
PLAIN: 


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PLAIN:  4U 


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SMZ 

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Fire  is  acceptable  in  the  Secondary  SMZ  but  not  in  the  Primary  SMZ. 
Does  not  apply  to  bottomlands  in  this  region. 

5 


-SECTION  II  - 
STREAM  CROSSINGS 

The  crossing  of  streams  should  be  avoided  if  at  all  possible.  In  most  situations,  ad- 
vanced planning  will  reduce  or  eliminate  the  number  of  crossings  necessary. 

/  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Properly  sized  culverts  should  be  used  in  small  streams  (usually  200-acre  or  less 
watershed,  depending  on  geographic  region)  (Table  1). 

2.  Well  constructed  bridges  should  be  used  over  large  streams  (200+  acre  watersheds, 
depending  on  geographic  region.) 

3.  Fords  should  be  made  only  at  right  angles  to  the  stream  where  stream  banks  and 
bottoms  are  hard  and  relatively  level.  These  crossings  should  be  made  only  on  a 
temporary  basis. 

4.  All  approaches  to  stream  crossings,  whether  temporary  fordings  or  permanent 
roads,  should  be  made  at  gentle  grades  of  slope  (about  3  percent). 

5.  Soil  around  all  culverts  and  bridges  should  be  stabilized  with  mulch  and  seed 
(Table  2). 

X  PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Temporary  crossings  of  logs  and  brush  topped  with  soil. 

2.  Anything  which  would  impede  the  free  flow  of  water. 


-  SECTION  HI  - 
ACCESS  ROADS  AND  THEIR  CONSTRUCTION 

Access  roads,  whether  newly  constructed  or  existing,  create  more  potential  for  soil 
movement  than  any  other  activity  in  forest  management.  Advance  planning  of  road 
construction  is  needed  to  minimize  road  grade  or  slope,  number  of  spur  roads,  and 
proper  location  of  each. 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Roads  located  within  the  SMZ  should  have  all  exposed  soil  stabilized,  preferably 
with  mulch  and  seed  (Tables  2  and  3). 

2.  Roads  should  follow  the  contour  as  much  as  possible. 

3.  Road  grades  should  be  kept  at  5  percent  or  less,  except  where  terrain  requires 
short  steep  grades. 

4.  Keep  roads  reasonably  free  of  obstructions  and  logging  debris  which  prevents  free 
flow  of  water  from  the  road  surface. 

5.  Locate  roads  on  the  sides  of  ridges  or  water  divides  to  insure  proper  drainage. 

6.  Locate  roads  above  flood  plains  and  wet  areas,  if  possible. 

7.  Insloping  of  roads  should  be  avoided.  However,some  situations  will  require  this. 
In  these  cases,  the  use  of  under  road  culverts  positioned  at  a  30°  angle  to  insure 
proper  inside  road  drainage  is  recommended  (Fig.  3  and  4). 

8.  Construct  road  wide  enough  to  handle  equipment  that  will  use  the  road  (usually 
about  12  to  14  feet). 

9.  Broad  based  dips  should  be  used  at  proper  intervals  to  channel  water  off  the  road 
(Fig.  5).  The  bottom  of  these  dips  should  be  outsloped  slightly  (3  percent)  to 
allow  for  removal  of  surface  water. 

10.  Water  bars  should  only  be  used  when  retiring  temporary  access  roads  and  skid 
trails. 

11.  Water  turnouts  should  be  used  at  proper  intervals  with  respect  to  grade  (Fig.  6). 

12.  Removal  of  shading  trees  along  road  sides  will  aid  in  drying  out  road  beds. 

13.  When  all  forestry  activities  are  completed  for  that  particular  time,  temporary 
access  roads  should  be  retired.  This  includes  re-shaping,  mulching,  and  seeding 
(Table  2),  in  combination  with  water  bars  (Fig.  7). 


X  PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Keep  road  construction  as  far  away  as  possible  from  SMZs. 

2.  Do  not  locate  roads  on  tops  of  ridges.  Water  tends  to  collect  in  them,  resulting  in 
poor  drainage. 

3.  Avoid  constant  use  of  soft  roads  during  wet  ground  conditions. 


Fig.  3  --  Properly  Constructed  Road  Cross  Section 


cut  tall  trees  if  shade  prevents 
road  from  drying- 


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Fig.  6  -  Water  Turnout 


WATER  DISPERSAL  AREA 
TURNS  DOWN  SLOPE 

WATER  TURNOUT 


11 


Fig.  7  -  Profile  of  Abandoned  Skid  Trail  Showing  Water  Bars 


WATER  BARS  INSTALLED  AT 
RECOMMENDED  INTERVALS 


EXTRA  DEEP  WATER  BARS  AT 
HEAD  OF  STEEP  PITCHES 


Road  Grade 
(Percent) 


Approximate  Distance 
Needed  Between  Water  Bars 
(Feet) 


1 

2 

5 

10 


400 

245 

125 

78 


12 


-  SECTION  IV  - 

TIMBER  HARVESTING 

Timber  harvesting  activities  pose  little  threat  to  water  quality  when  care  is  taken  to 
prevent  or  minimize  erosion  and  sedimentation. 
•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Timber  harvesting  within  the  SMZs  should  abide  by  practices  pointed  out  in 
Section  1. 

2.  Skidding  on  steep  slopes  should  be  done  on  a  gradual  grade,  rather  than  straight 
up  the  slope  (primarily  Piedmont  and  Mountain  Regions). 

3.  Alternate  skidding  between  several  different  skid  trails  instead  of  using  only 
one  primary  trail.  This  will  result  in  a  minimum  of  soil  exposure  and  distur- 
bance. 

4.  Leave  logging  debris  on  exposed  soil,  dry  washes,  and  at  points  of  concentrated 
drainage  from  skid  trails  and  roads. 

5.  Temporary  culverts  should  be  used  when  crossing  streams  with  harvesting 
equipment.  These  culverts  can  be  pulled  out  after  logging  operations  are  com- 
plete. 

6.  Log  decks  should  only  be  large  enough  to  handle  necessary  loading  activities. 

7.  Log  decks  should  be  located  on  stable,  well  drained  areas,  well  away  from 
streams  and  ponds. 

8.  Log  decks  located  in  the  Piedmont  and  Mountain  Regions  should  be  site  pre- 
pared and  seeded  when  harvesting  operations  have  been  completed.  (May  apply 
to  Coastal  Plain  Region  on  certain  sites,  depending  on  slope  and  drainage 
characteristics. 

9.  Portable  sawmills  should  be  located  at  least  300  feet  away  from  any  stream  or 
body  of  water. 

10.    Provisions  should  be  made  at  lunch  sites  and  sawmill  setups  for  disposal  of 
human  wastes  and  garbage. 

X PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Do  not  service  logging  equipment  where  it  will  have  an  impact  on  water  qua- 
lity. 

2.  Sawdust  and   mill  waste  should  not  be  discharged  into  streams  and  lakes. 

3.  Temporary  crossings  made  from  logs  piled  into  streams  should  not  be  used,  as 
they  are  usually  not  removed  following  harvesting  thus  causing  stream  channel 
blockage. 


13 


-  SECTION  V  - 

SITE  PREPARATION 

Site  preparation,  for  the  purpose  of  forest  regeneration,  is  a  basic  silvicultural  tool 
in  Georgia  where  control  of  competing  vegetation  and  reduction  of  logging  debris  are 
necessary.  Several  site  preparation  procedures,  however,  should  be  of  concern  when 
considering  water  quality. 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Analyze  and  plan  the  site  preparation  job,  taking  into  account  all  aspects  of  the 
Streamside  Management  Zones  (Section  I). 

2.  All  bulldozing,  Vee-blading,  K-G  blading,  and  root  raking  should  disturb  as  little 
soil  as  possible. 

3.  Use  drum  choppers,  herbicides,  or  prescribed  burning  on  highly  erodible  soils. 

4.  When  windrowing,  debris  should  be  oriented  on  the  contour.  Breaks  should  be 
left  in  the  windrows  to  allow  safe  access  for  fire  control  or  other  activities. 

5.  Only  dry  washes  may  be  filled  in  with  debris. 

6.  Construction  of  planting  beds  should  be  done  on  the  contour. 

X  PRACTICES  TO  BE  AVOIDED 

1.  Do  not  pile  debris  in  live  or  wet-weather  streams. 

2.  Avoid  all  heavy  site  preparation  (K-G  blading,  root  raking,  disking,  etc.)  on  slopes 
greater  than  20  percent. 

3.  On  slopes,  do  not  site  prepare  land  up  to  the  edge  of  roads  and  roadside  ditches. 
Leave  a  natural  buffer  strip  (10+  feet)  to  catch  soil  particles  going  to  or  from  road 
areas. 


Road 


14 


-  SECTION  VI  - 
REFORESTATION 

Reforestation  includes  hand  and  machine  planting  and  direct  seeding.  Hand  planting 
and  direct  seeding  pose  no  threat  to  water  quality;  therefore,  BMPs  are  not  necessary. 

Since  some  exposure  of  mineral  soil  occurs  with  machine  planting,  there  is  a  slight 
concern  for  erosion. 

/  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Machine  plant  on  the  contour  if  at  all  possible. 

2.  Refer  to  Streamside  Management  Zone  (Section  I)  regarding  machine  planting  in 
these  areas. 


15 


-  SECTION  VII  - 

FOREST  PROTECTION 
(PRESCRIBED  BURNING,  FIRE  LINES,  AND  CHEMICAL  FIRE  RETARD  ANTS) 

PRESCRIBED  BURNING 

Prescribed  fire  is  a  very  useful  silvicultural  tool  when  used  properly.  Poor  planning 
and  weather  conditions  can  cause  too  much  heat  in  a  prescribed  burn,  completely 
destroying  the  humus  layer,  exposing  the  soil  to  erosion. 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Carefully  plan  and  execute  the  use  of  prescribed  fire  in  forestry  situations  while 
observing  the  weather  conditions. 

FIRE  LINES 

•  BMPs  RECOMMENDED 

1.  Pre-suppression  firebreaks  should  be  located  on  the  contour  as  much  as  possible. 

2.  When  grades  over  5  percent  develop,  water  bars  should  be  placed  in  firebreak 
lines,  if  possible,  at  frequent  intervals  to  slow  the  water  and  disperse  it  (Fig.  8). 

3.  Since  wildfire  suppression  lines  are  made  in  the  stress  of  emergency,  implementa- 
tion of  BMPs  should  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  landowner. 

CHEMICAL  FIRE  RETARDANTS 

Because  of  the  limited  use  of  chemical  fire  retardants  in  the  state  of  Georgia,  no 
BMPs  are  recommended. 


16 


Fig.  8  -  Water  Bars  in  Firebreak 


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-SECTION  VIII  - 

CHEMICAL  TREATMENT 

(PESTICIDES,  HERBICIDES,  AND  FERTILIZERS) 

Use  of  chemical  treatment  should  be  limited  within  the  SMZ  because  of  their 
pollution  potential.  Pesticides  (including  herbicides)  should  be  made  by  injec- 
tion or  directed  application.  Forest  fertilizer  should  be  applied  in  such  a  man- 
ner (rate,  time,frequency  of  application,  etc.)  to  prevent  soil  or  water  pollution. 
If  state  and  federal  laws  regarding  the  proper  use  of  silvicultural  chemicals 
are  adhered  to,  and  manufacturers  label  directions  followed;  the  judicious  use 
of  chemicals  should  not  jeopardize  the  SMZ  or  the  water  it  protects.  Care 
should  also  be  taken  in  areas  adjacent  to  the  SMZ  to  prevent  the  drift,  spill, 
seepage,  or  wash  of  chemicals  into  the  SMZ  or  water  course. 


17 


APPENDIX 


-GLOSSARY 


Access  Road  -  A  temporary  or  permanent  woods  road  over  which  timber  is  transported 
from  a  felling  site  to  a  public  road.  Also  known  as  a  haul  road. 

Bedding  -  A  site  preparation  technique  whereby  a  small  ridge  of  surface  soil  is  formed 
to  provide  an  elevated  planting  or  seed  bed.  It  is  used  primarily  in  wet  areas  to  im- 
prove drainage  and  aeration  for  seedlings. 

Best  Management  Practices  (BMPs)  -  A  practice,  or  combination  of  practices,  that  is 
determined  after  problem  assessment  and  examination  of  alternatives,  to  be  most 
effective,  practical  means  of  preventing  or  reducing  the  amount  of  pollution  gener- 
ated by  non-point  sources  to  a  level  compatible  with  water  quality. 

Broad-Based  Dip  -  Also  called  a  rolling  dip,  this  is  a  surface  drainage  structure  specifi- 
cally designed  to  tip  water  out  of  a  dirt  road  while  vehicles  maintain  normal  haul 
speeds. 

Buffer  Strip  -  A  barrier  of  permanent  vegetation  established  or  left  undisturbed  down- 
slope  from  disturbed  forest  areas  to  filter  out  sediment  from  runoff  before  it  reaches 
a  watercourse. 

Chopping  -  A  mechanical  treatment  whereby  vegetation  is  concentrated  near  the 
ground  and  incorporated  into  the  soil.  Chopping  may  be  used  to  facilitate  burning 
or  to  increase  the  organic  component  of  the  surface  soil. 

Clear  cutting  -  A  silvicultural  system  in  which  all  merchantable  trees  are  harvested  over 
a  specified  area  in  one  operation. 

Commercial  Forest  Land  -  Forest  land  bearing  or  capable  of  bearing  timber  of  commer- 
cial character,  currently  or  prospectively  available,  and  not  withdrawn  from  such 
use. 

Contour  -  An  imaginary  line  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  connecting  points  of  the  same 
elevation.  A  line  drawn  on  a  map  connecting  points  of  the  same  elevation. 

Culvert  -  Either  a  metal  or  concrete  pipe,  or  a  constructed  box-type  conduit,  through 
which  water  is  carried  under  roads. 

Dry  Wash  -  A  stream  bed  that  carries  water  only  during  and  immediately  following 
rainstorms. 

Erosion  -  The  process  by  which  soil  particles  are  detached  and  transported  by  water, 
wind,  and  gravity  to  some  downslope  or  downstream  point. 

Felling  -  The  process  of  cutting  down  standing  trees. 

Forest  Chemicals  -  Chemical  substances  or  formulations  that  perform  important 
functions  in  forest  management,  and  include  fertilizers,  herbicides,  repellents,  and 
other  chemicals. 

Forest  Land  -  Land  bearing  forest  growth  or  land  from  which  the  forest  has  been  re- 
moved but  which  shows  evidence  of  past  forest  occupancy  and  which  is  not  now 
in  other  use. 


18 


Forest  Practice  -  An  activity  relating  to  the  growing,  protecting,  harvesting,  or  pro- 
cessing of  forest  tree  species  on  forest  land  and  other  aspects  such  as  wildlife, 
recreation,  etc. 

Forest  Road  -  An  access  route  for  vehicles  into  forest  land. 

Harrowing  (Disking)  -  A  mechanical  method  of  scarifying  the  soil  to  reduce  competing 
vegetation  and  to  prepare  a  site  to  be  seeded  or  planted. 

Harvesting  -  The  felling,  skidding,  loading,  and  transporting  of  timber  products  (pulp- 
wood,  poles,  sawlogs,  etc.). 

Haul  Road  -  See  Access  Road 

Herbicide  -  Any  substance  or  mixture  of  substances  intended  to  prevent  the  growth  of 
or  destroy  unwanted  trees,  bushes,  weeds,  algae,  and  other  aquatic  weeds. 

Intermittent  Stream  -  A  watercourse  that  flows  in  a  well  defined  channel  during  the 
wet  seasons  of  the  year,  but  not  the  entire  year.  Same  as  a  wet-weather  stream. 

Live  Stream  -  See  Perennial  Stream. 

Log  Deck  -  Also  called  log  landing,  log  yard,  brow  or  bunching  area.  A  place  where 
logs  or  tree-length  material  is  assembled  for  loading  and  transporting. 

Logging   Debris  -   The  unutilized  and  generally  unmarketable  accumulation  in  the 
forest  of  woody  material,  such  as  large  limbs,  tops,  cull  logs  and  stumps,  that 
remain  as  forest  residue  after  timber  harvesting. 

Mulching  -  Any  loose  covering  of  forest  soil  with  organic  residues,  such  as  grass,  straw, 
or  wood  fibers,  to  check  erosion  and  stabilize  exposed  soil. 

Non-Point  Source  Pollution  -  Water  pollution  which  is:  (1)  induced  by  natural  process- 
es, including  precipitation,  seepage,  percolation,  and  runoff;  (2)  not  traceable  to  any 
discrete  or  identifiable  facility;  and  (3)  better  controlled  through  the  utilization  of 
best  management  practices. 

Perennial  Stream  -  A  watercourse  that  flows  throughout  the  year  or  nearly  so  (90  per- 
cent), in  a  well  defined  channel.  Same  as  a  live  stream. 

Pesticides  -  Chemical  materials  that  are  used  for  the  control  of  undesirable  insects, 
diseases,  vegetation,  animals  or  other  forms  of  life. 

Prescribed  Burning  -  The  practice  of  using  controlled  fires  to  reduce  or  eliminate  the 
unincorporated  organic  matter  of  the  forest  floor,  or  low,  undesirable  vegetation. 

Regeneration  -  The  young  tree  crop  replacing  older  trees  removed  by  harvest  or  dis- 
aster; the  process  of  replacing  old  trees  with  young. 

Retirement  of  Road  -  Preparing  a  road  for  a  long  period  of  non-use.  Methods  include 
mulching,  seeding,  installing  water  bars,  etc. 

Rotation  (Period)  -  The  period  of  time  to  establish,  grow  and  harvest  a  crop  of  trees  at 
a  specified  condition  of  maturity. 

Sidecast  -  The  act  of  moving  excavated  material  to  the  side  and  depositing  such  mater- 
ial. 

Silviculture  -  The  science  and  art  of  growing  forest  crops,  More  particularly,  the  princi- 
ples, theories  and  practices  for  protecting  and  enhancing  the  regeneration,  growth, 
development  and  utilization  of  forests  for  multiple  benefits. 
Site  Preparation  -  A  forest  activity  to  remove  unwanted  vegetation  and  other  material, 
and  to  cultivate  or  prepare  the  soil  for  reforestation. 

Skid  -  Short-distance  moving  of  logs  or  felled  trees,  along  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
from  the  stump  to  the  point  of  loading. 

Skid  Trail  -  A  temporary,  non-structural  pathway  over  forest  soil  to  drag  felled  trees 
or  logs  to  a  log  landing. 

Streamside  Management  Zone  (SMZ)  -  An  area  adjacent  to  the  banks  of  streams  and 
bodies  of  open  water  where  extra  precaution  is  necessary  in  carrying  out  forest 
practices  in  order  to  protect  bank  edges  and  water  quality. 

Thermal  Pollution  -  A  temperature  rise  in  a  body  of  water  sufficient  to  be  harmful  to 
the  aquatic  life  in  the  water. 

19 


Water  Bar  -  A  hump  or  small  dike-type  surface  drainage  structure,  properly  used  only 

in  closing  abandoned  roads  to  traffic,  on  firelines,     and  abandoned  skid  trails. 
Watercourse  -  A  stream  of  water;  river;  brook;  a  channel  for  water.  Can  be  also  used  to 

include  bodies  of  open  water. 
Watershed  Area  -  All  land  and  water  within  the  confines  of  a  drainage  divide. 
Water  Turnout  -  The  extension  of  an  access  road's  drainage  ditch  into  a  vegetated  area 

to  provide  for  the  dispersion  and  filtration  of  stormwater  runoff. 
Wet-Weather  Stream  -  See  Intermittent  Stream. 
Windrow  -  Logging  debris  and  unmerchantable  woody  vegetation  which  has  been  piled 

in  rows  to  decompose  or  be  burned;  or  the  act  of  constructing  these  piles. 


Table  1. -Recommended  Diameters  for  Corrugated  Metal  Culverts 


Drainage      Lower       Upper 

Area  Coastal      Coastal 

(Acres)        Plain  Plain  Piedmont      Mountains 


Lsiamci 

LCI    111   1IIC1IC 

10 

12 

12 

12 

18 

50 

30 

18 

30 

36 

100 

48 

30 

42 

48 

200 

60 

42 

54 

2(48) 

20 


60 

u. 
C 

O 

c 


-o 
ca 
o 

60 

C 


u 

60 

cj 

o 

C/5 


z 

o 

3 

u 

z 
< 

H 
Z 
D 
O 

u 

fa 

u 

< 

u 

ca 

Qi 

— . 

H 

60 

c 

c 

_C3 
2- 
fa 

<2 

.Si 
"u 
<u 

ft, 

cn 

tA 
<u 

ca 
Q 

Mar.  15       Tall  fescue  and                        25-35  lb. 

to             sericea  or  "Ambro" 
June  1          virgata  lespedeza                       40-50  lb. 
and            Weeping  lovegrass  and                      4  lb. 
June  1         scarified  sericea   or 

to             "Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     40-50  lb. 
Aug.  15 -    Browntop  or  "Dove"               20-30  lb. 

proso  millet^- 
Aug.  15       Tall  fescue  and                               40  lb. 

to             unhulled  sericea  or  "Ambro" 
Oct.  1 5        virgata  lespedeza                      40-60  lb. 
or  red  clover                                  10  lb. 
Oct.  15        Tall  fescue  and                         25-35  lb. 

to              unhulled  sericea  or  "Ambro" 
Mar.  15       virgata  lespedeza                      40-60  lb. 
and  Abruzzi  rye                               1  bu. 
(for  nurse  crop) 

z 

o 
3 

u 

H 
Z 

o 
:> 

Q 

w 

5u 

«- 

< 

<u 
ca 

-1 

60 

c 

c 

ca 

a* 

hi 

'S 
C 

cu 
(A 

u 

Q 

Sept.  1      Tall  fescue  and                         25-35  lb. 

to          unhulled  sericea  or 
Nov.  1       "Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     50-60  lb. 

Nov.  1       Tall  fescue  and                         25-35  lb. 

to          unhulled  sericea  or 
Mar.  1—     "Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     50-60  lb. 
and  Abruzzi  rye                                1  bu. 
Mar.  1        Tall  fescue  and                          25-35  lb. 

to          scarified  sericea  or 
Apr.  15      "Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     30-40  lb. 

Apr.  15     Pensacola  bahiagrass  and         25-35  lb. 

to          scarified  sericea  or 
July  1        "Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     40-50  lb. 
or 
common  bermuda  grass  and            6  lb. 
scarified  sericea  or 
"Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza     40-50  lb. 

Z 

o 
3 

as 

c/i 
Z 

< 

cu 

< 

H 

< 

O 

u 

u 

o 
-J 

w 
a. 
cu 
D 

c-» 

fa 

u 

< 

M 

u 

ca 

60 

c 

_ca 

Cu 

fa 

o 

M 
.£2 

'G 
C 

ft. 
<U 

ca 
0 

Sept.  1      Tall  fescue  or                     25-35  lb. 

to           "Pensacola"  bahiagrass      25-35  lb. 

Nov.  15     and  rye  grass                             15  1b. 

Nov.  15     Tall  fescue  or                     25-35  lb. 

to           "Pensacola"  bahiagrass      20-25  lb. 

Feb.  15      and  Abruzzi  rye                          1  bu. 

Feb.  15     Pensacola  bahiagrass          20-25  lb. 
to           or  bermuda  grass  and                6  lb. 
June  15     scarified  sericea  or             30-40  lb. 
"Ambro"  virgata  lespedeza 

fa 

U 

ft. 


1  I 

ca  o 

*•  1 

«-  cj 

-ft  «s- 


ca          <n 


c^a    *> 
1|  ^ 

S  2    3 
■%  §    a 

S"?  £ 

SSo 

«  8  °. 
■a  b  « 

.2  g    2 

cj    O     © 
ft.  O-   © 
00 


o   wj   P 

<*;£  5 

E     60g 

J2  c  cj 

3  '3  -ft 
O     g    5 

£  CU  U 


21 


Table  3.  -Calculation  of  Seed  and  Fertilizer  Needs  for  Roads,  Skid  Trails  and  Disturbed 
Areas 


A.    ROADS 

1.  Determine  acres  from  table  below 

Road  Surface  Area  Determination  Table  -  Acres 


Road  Length 

Road  Width  (F 

eet) 

(Feet) 

8' 

10' 

12' 

14' 

18' 

20' 

50 

.01 

.01 

.01 

.02 

.02 

.02 

100 

.022 

.02 

.03 

.03 

.04 

.05 

250 

.05 

.06 

.07 

.08 

.10 

.11 

500 

.09 

.12 

.14 

.16 

.21 

.23 

750 

.144 

.17 

.21 

.24 

.31 

.34 

1000 

.18 

.24 

.28 

.32 

.41 

.46 

1500 

.28 

.34 

.41 

.48 

.62 

.69 

2000 

.36 

.48 

.56 

.64 

.83 

.92 

5000 

.92 

1.15 

1.38 

1.61 

2.07 

2.30 

5280 

.97 

1.21 

1.45 

1.70 

2.18 

2.43 

2.  Multiply  the  appropriate  acre  figure  times  the  pounds  per  acre  that  is  recom- 
mended in  seed  mixtures. 

B.  OTHER  AREAS 

1.  To  determine  acreage  and  pounds  of  seed  needed  for  other  areas  such  as  loading 
decks,  turnouts,  etc.,  use  the  following  formula: 

Avg.  Length  X  Avg.  Width  =  Square  Feet 

Square  Feet  X  23  and  point  off  6  places. 

Multiply  the  answer  times  the  pounds  per  acre 

as  recommended  in  seed  mixtures  or  amount  of  seed. 

2.  To  determine  fertilizer  and  mulch  needs,  use  the  above  procedure. 


22 


GUIDE  FOR  STABILIZING  ROADBANKS^7 


SLOPE 


TREATMENT 


Vi  to  1 
(200%) 


These  slopes  sometimes  hold  without 
treatment.  If  the  soil  is  unstable  and  sub- 
ject to  caving,  the  bank  must  be  resloped 
to  a  lower  angle. 


lto  1 
(100%) 


Mulching    and    fertilization    is    almost 
always  necessary. 


2  to  1 

(50%) 


Can  loosen  to  apply  fertilizer  and  seed; 
should  use  light  mulch  on  droughty  soils. 


4  to  1 

(25%) 


Can   cultivate   with   machinery;  drill  in 
fertilizer  and  seed. 


1/ 


—    This  guide  generally  applies  to  roadbanks  with  significant  height  to  warrant  treat- 
ment. It  may  not  be  practical  or  necessary  to  seed  banks  or  many  logging  roads. 


23 


TYPICAL  ROAD  CROSS-SECTIONS  ON  SIDE  SLOPES  OF  VARYING  DEGREES 


20% 
Slope 


50% 

Slope 


24 


3    BIDfl    03^^    SMOfi    r 


For  additional  information  regarding  any  aspect  of  this  booklet, 
contact  your  local  Water  Quality  Coordinator  located  in  one  of  the 
following  districts. 

Georgia  Forestry  Commission 


Georgia  Forestry  Commission 

Central  Office 

P.  O.  Box  819 

Macon,  Georgia  31298-4599 

1-800-GA  TREES 


Rome  District 

3086  Martha  Berry  Hwy.,  NE 

Rome,  Georgia  30165-7708 

(706)  295-6021 


Americus  District 

243  U.  S.  Hwy.  19  North 

Americus,  Georgia  31709-9717 

(912)  928-1301 


Gainesville  District 

3005  Atlanta  Hwy. 

Gainesville,  Georgia  30507 

(706)  534-5454 


Tifton  District 

Route  3,  Box  17 

Tifton,  Georgia  31794-9401 

(912)  386-3617 


Athens  District 

1055  E.  Whitehall 

Athens,  Georgia  30605 

(706)  542-6880 


Camilla  District 

P.  O.  Box  345 

Camilla,  Georgia  31730 

(912)  336-5341 


Newnan  District 

187  Corinth  Road 

Newnan,  Georgia  30263-5167 

(404)  254-7218 


Statesboro  District 

Route  2,  Box  28 

Statesboro,  Georgia  30458-9803 

(912)  681-0490 


Milledgeville  District 

119  Highway  49 

Milledgeville,  Georgia  31061 

(912)  453-5164 


McRae  District 

Route  1,  Box  67 

Helena,  Georgia  31037 

(912)  868-5649 


Washington  District 

1465  Tignall  Road 

Washington,  Georgia  30673-9802 

(706)  678-2015 


Waycross  District 

5003  Jacksonville  Hwy. 

Waycross,  Georgia  31503 

(912)  287-4915 


Urban  Project 

6835  Memorial  Drive 

Stone  Mountain,  Georgia  30083-2236 

(404)  294-3550 


GEORGIA 

FORESTRY 


John  W.  Mixon 
Director 

Frank  Green 
Water  Quality  Coordinator 


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Press  Time  and  Paper  Only. 
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